While individual talent is abundant across the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, the secondary enters the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons facing an unproven element - chemistry.
On a recent episode of the “North Shore Drive
” podcast, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writers Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo pinpointed the defensive backfield as the team’s paramount concern heading into Week 1.Multiple injuries and a contract hold-in prevented the projected secondary from logging meaningful practice and scrimmage reps together throughout training camp. Outside cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey missed extensive camp time on the PUP list, starting safety Jaquan Brisker was sidelined for most of August, and veteran DeShon Elliott
was placed on injured reserve.
"This has been the thing that I've been kind of ringing a bell about, we have not seen the secondary together pretty much at all this offseason," Carter explained, emphasizing that four of the five expected starters in Pittsburgh's nickel defense failed to share the field this summer. "They're putting it down like, 'Hey, we have a good chemistry for the group.' They got to go prove it soon."
Although Atlanta’s offense features a run-heavy approach anchored by Bijan Robinson, communication errors in a newly assembled secondary can turn minor mistakes into game-changing blown coverages. Fittipaldo admitted that despite roster depth at other positions, the secondary remains a high-stakes wildcard.
"I have concerns about the offensive line. I have concerns about the receiving core," Fittipaldo noted. "But with Joey's situation and with DeShon's situation, man, I just think there is a lot left that we have to find out about the secondary before I can feel completely comfortable with it."
To secure a Week 1 victory, Pittsburgh’s defensive backs must instantly sync communication on the fly.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Why communication issues in the secondary pose a Week 1 risk
